Edge finders



Jan. 24, 1956 H. TIMPNER 2,73L726 EDGE FINDER-S Filed Feb. 24, 1953 INVENTOR. f/E/ve v 77MPA/Ee ATTOENFY 2,731,725 Fatented Jan. 24, 1956 EDGE FINDERS Henry Timpner, Milwaukee, Wis. Application February 24, 1953, Seriai No. 338,4% 1 Claim. (Ci. 33-472) This invention relates to improvements in edge finders for milling machines, and more particularly to a novel edge finder incorporated with an indicator dial mechanism.

An object of the invention is to establish within precision limits the exact edge of an article of work wherein drilling or other operations are to be carried out at predetermined distances from said edge as established.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of an edge finder embodying the invention attached to the vertical spindle of a milling machine in a position for use.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross section of said edge finder.

Fig. 3 is a view of said edge finder with the sleeve partially broken away to expose the indicator actuating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a view taken in section through rod 26 above ball 25 and through sleeve 17 at 6-6 in Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 refers to the device generally, including an element 11 adapted to be suspended from a chuck 12 of milling machine spindle 13. The element 11 terminates at its lower end in a ball 14 held in the socket 15 which latter is attached to the top of a conventional test indicator 16.

An elongated sleeve 17 with a reduced portion at 18 thereof, is secured by threaded means 19 about the test indicator actuating mechanism 20. The sleeve 17 has circular transversely registering apertures at 21 and 22 to accommodate the bolt 23 mounted for limited lateral sliding movement therein. The bolt 23 has a central transverse slot therein at 24 to receive a ball 25 attached to the lower end of the rod 26 in turn attached to the lower end of the indicator actuating mechanism 20. In the reduced portion 18 of the sleeve 17, an element 27 is urged upwardly against the bolt 23 by means of the in elevation of a modified form coil expansion spring 28, and the pressure of said spring may be regulated by adjustment of the nut 29 at the lower end of the reduced portion 18.

In use, the work block 30 is held in the jig 31 by means 32 and the milling machine table is adjusted in relation until the latter is as vertical as possible while being immediately adjacent the work block edge 33. The spindle 13 is then rotated by hand while the operator observes the dial 34 of the indicator 16. The radial dimension of the sleeve 17 is known, and the movetance the machine table must be moved in order to precisely drill a hole said distance from the exact edge of the block 36. The dimensions of the sleeve 17 and the length of the bolt 23 have a predetermined proportion, and the bolt is necessarily longer than is the outside diameter of said sleeve.

in Figs. 4 and 5, a modified form of the invention is shown, in which an indicator housing 40 is held by a stirrup 41 from a socket 42 engaging a ball 43. The dial 44 of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

An edge finder including a shank element for retention within a vertical chuck, a ball integral at the lower end of said shank, a socket element retaining said ball With a sliding fit, an indicator mechanism receiving the actuating means ball 1n said slot, spring pressed means for frictionally engaging said bolt held therebeneath in said sleeve, and threaded means in the lower end of said sleeve for altering pressure of said spring-pressed means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,740,695 Johansson Dec. 24, 1929 2,121,848 Winters June 28, 1938 2,573,531 Arp Oct. 30, 1951 

